Door Shakespeare’s Production of Emma

On July 27, 2024, the Jane Austen Society was invited to a production of Emma, performed by Door Shakespeare in Baileys Harbor, WI.  The production was adapted by Joseph Hanreddy and directed by Maggie Kettering. Before the play, the Jane Austen Society members attended a tea with both the playwright and director. “How did you handle the musical elements?” was the first question asked.  Luckily, Taylor Harvey (Emma) and Isa Guitian (Harriet Smith and Jane Fairfax) have very good voices and play well.  

The group then attended the delightful performance. Although limited to a small performing space, the production depicted quite a charming setting. The upstairs of the stage depicted the Bates’s cramped apartment in a humorous manner, with Miss Bates’ louder and louder shouts to Mrs. Bates receiving hysterical laughter from the audience.

While the costuming was critiqued as being half Regency, half Victorian, it was interesting to compare the adaptation and character executions. The performers presented the English accents well, enunciating clearly, and were easy to comprehend.  

Ariele Leverett, who played the double role of Mrs. Weston and Mrs. Elton, played very difficult parts superbly. Changing from a kind Mrs. Weston to a character so classless and tasteless as Mrs. Elton must have been quite a challenge, but she did superbly.   

The stars of the show, Taylor Harvey and Jonathan Contreras (George Knightley ) played their parts with such passion and brought Emma alive on stage. While some plot points had to be omitted, such as the in-depth background into Jane’s past, all the major parts of the story were present. 

One highlight was the ball at the Crown Inn. Since not everyone could be in it at the same time because there were double roles, a rack with a suit and a wire head did just as well on the dance floor. Emma dancing with Mr. Knightley (the director’s favorite moment) was absolutely heart melting, as was the proposal scene. 

The only uneven note was the constant guessing as to Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill having some sort of secret attachment, and the two arguing in plain sight. While their attachment came as a surprise to the characters in the novel, it did not as depicted in the play.  

Previous adaptations by Joseph Hanreddy include Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. Hopefully we will be lucky enough to see those productions on stage in the future.  

Contributed by Zachary Mason